10.2.1 It Only Does Everything
10.2.2
NetherlandsNetherlands Ceramic White PSP Commercials
10.2.3 All I want for Xmas is a PSP

11 Reception
12 References
13 External links

History
Origins

Original PS logo

PlayStationPlayStation was the brainchild of Ken Kutaragi, a
SonySony executive who
had just finished managing one of the company's hardware engineering
divisions at that time and would later be dubbed as "The Father of the
PlayStation".[15][16]
The console's origins date back to 1988 where it was originally a
joint project between
NintendoNintendo and
SonySony to create a
CD-ROMCD-ROM for the
Super Famicom.[17] Although
NintendoNintendo denied the existence of the Sony
deal as late as March 1991,[18]
SonySony revealed a Super Famicom with a
built-in
CD-ROMCD-ROM drive, that incorporated Green Book technology or
CD-i, called "Play Station" (also known as SNES-CD) at the Consumer
Electronics Show in June 1991. However, a day after the announcement
at CES,
NintendoNintendo announced that it would be breaking its partnership
with Sony, opting to go with
PhilipsPhilips instead but using the same
technology.[19] The deal was broken by
NintendoNintendo after they were unable
to come to an agreement on how revenue would be split between the two
companies.[19] The breaking of the partnership infuriated Sony
President Norio Ohga, who responded by appointing Kutaragi with the
responsibility of developing the
PlayStationPlayStation project to rival
Nintendo.[19]
At that time, negotiations were still on-going between
NintendoNintendo and
Sony, with
NintendoNintendo offering
SonySony a "non-gaming role" regarding their
new partnership with Philips. This proposal was swiftly rejected by
Kutaragi who was facing increasing criticism over his work with regard
to entering the video game industry from within Sony. Negotiations
officially ended in May 1992 and in order to decide the fate of the
PlayStationPlayStation project, a meeting was held in June 1992, consisting of
SonySony President Ohga,
PlayStationPlayStation Head Kutaragi and several senior
members of Sony's board. At the meeting, Kutaragi unveiled a
proprietary CD-ROM-based system he had been working on which involved
playing video games with 3D graphics to the board. Eventually, Sony
President Ohga decided to retain the project after being reminded by
Kutaragi of the humiliation he suffered from Nintendo. Nevertheless,
due to strong opposition from a majority present at the meeting as
well as widespread internal opposition to the project by the older
generation of
SonySony executives, Kutaragi and his team had to be shifted
from Sony's headquarters to
SonySony Music, a completely separate
financial entity owned by Sony, so as to retain the project and
maintain relationships with
PhilipsPhilips for the MMCD development project
(which helped lead to the creation of the DVD).[19]
According to SCE's producer Ryoji Akagawa and chairman Shigeo
Maruyama, there was uncertainty over whether the console should
primarily focus on 2D sprite graphics or 3D polygon graphics. It was
only after witnessing the success of Sega's Virtua Fighter in Japanese
arcades that "the direction of the
PlayStationPlayStation became instantly clear"
and 3D polygon graphics became the console's primary focus.[20]
Formation of
SonySony Computer Entertainment
At
SonySony Music Entertainment, Kutaragi worked closely with Shigeo
Maruyama, the CEO of
SonySony Music, and with Akira Sato to form Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) on November 16, 1993.[21] A
building block of SCEI was its initial partnership with
SonySony Music
which helped SCEI attract creative talent to the company as well as
assist SCEI in manufacturing, marketing and producing discs, something
that
SonySony Music had been doing with Music Discs. The final two key
members of SCEI were Terry Tokunaka, the President of SCEI from Sony's
headquarters, and Olaf Olafsson. Olafsson was CEO and president of New
York-based
SonySony Interactive Entertainment[22] which was the mother
company for the 1994-founded
SonySony Computer Entertainment of America
(SCEA).
The
PlayStationPlayStation project, SCEI's first official project, was finally
given the green light by
SonySony executives in 1993 after a few years of
development. Also in 1993, Phil Harrison, who would later become
President of
SonySony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, was
recruited into SCEI to attract developers and publishers to produce
games for their new
PlayStationPlayStation platform.[19]
Computer Gaming WorldComputer Gaming World in March 1994 reported a rumor that the "Sony
PS-X" would be released in
JapanJapan "before the end of this year and will
retail for less than $400".[23] After a demonstration of Sony's
distribution plan as well as tech demos of its new console to game
publishers and developers in a hotel in
TokyoTokyo in 1994, numerous
developers began to approach PlayStation. Two of whom later became
major partners were
Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts in the West and
NamcoNamco in Japan.
One of the factors which attracted developers to the platform was the
use of a 3D-capable, CD-ROM-based console which was much cheaper and
easier to manufacture for in comparison to Nintendo's rival console,
which used cartridge systems. The project eventually hit Japanese
stores in December 1994 and gained massive sales due to its lower
price point than its competitor, the
SegaSega Saturn. Popularity of the
console spread after its release worldwide in
North AmericaNorth America and
Europe.[19]
Home consoles
PlayStation

The original PlayStation

The redesigned PS one

Main article:
PlayStationPlayStation (console)
The original PlayStation, released in
JapanJapan on December 3, 1994, was
the first of the ubiquitous
PlayStationPlayStation series of console and
hand-held game devices. It has included successor consoles and
upgrades including the
Net YarozeNet Yaroze (a special black
PlayStationPlayStation with
tools and instructions to program
PlayStationPlayStation games and applications),
"PS one" (a smaller version of the original) and the
PocketStationPocketStation (a
handheld which enhances
PlayStationPlayStation games and also acts as a memory
card). It was part of the fifth generation of video game consoles
competing against the
SegaSega Saturn and the
NintendoNintendo 64. By December
2003, the
PlayStationPlayStation and PS one had shipped a combined total of
102.49 million units,[24] eventually becoming the first video game
console to sell 120 million units.[2]
PS one
Main article: PS one
Released on July 7, 2000,[25] concurrently with its successor the
PlayStationPlayStation 2, the PS one was a considerably smaller, redesigned
version of the original
PlayStationPlayStation video game console.[26] The PS one
went on to outsell all other consoles, including its successor,
throughout the remainder of the year.[26] It featured two main changes
from its predecessor, the first being a cosmetic change to the console
and the second being the home menu's Graphical User Interface; a
variation of the GUI previously used only on PAL consoles up to that
point.

Main article:
PlayStationPlayStation 2
Released in 2000, 15 months after the
DreamcastDreamcast and a year before its
other competitors, the Xbox and the
NintendoNintendo GameCube, the PlayStation
2 is part of the sixth generation of video game consoles, and is
backwards-compatible with most original
PlayStationPlayStation games. Like its
predecessor, it has received a slimmer redesign. It is the most
successful home console in the world,[27] having sold over 155 million
units as of December 28, 2012.[3] On November 29, 2005, the PS2 became
the fastest game console to reach 100 million units shipped,
accomplishing the feat within 5 years and 9 months from its launch.
This achievement occurred faster than its predecessor, the
PlayStation, which took "9 years and 6 months since launch" to reach
the same figure.[2]
PlayStation 2PlayStation 2 shipments in
JapanJapan ended on December
28, 2012.[28] The Guardian reported on January 4, 2013 that PS2
production had ended worldwide, but studies showed that many people
all around the world still own one even if it is no longer in use.
PlayStation 2PlayStation 2 has been ranked as the best selling console of all time
as of 2015.[29]
Slimline model
Main article:
PlayStation 2PlayStation 2 Slimline
Released in 2004, four years after the launch of the original
PlayStationPlayStation 2, the
PlayStation 2PlayStation 2 Slimline was the first major redesign
of the
PlayStationPlayStation 2. Compared to its predecessor, the Slimline was
smaller, thinner, quieter and also included a built-in
EthernetEthernet port
(in some markets it also has an integrated modem). In 2007,
SonySony began
shipping a revision of the Slimline which was lighter than the
original Slimline together with a lighter AC adapter.[30] In 2008,
SonySony released yet another revision of the Slimline which had an
overhauled internal design incorporating the power supply into the
console itself like the original
PlayStation 2PlayStation 2 resulting in a further
reduced total weight of the console.[31]

Main article:
PlayStationPlayStation 3
Released on November 17, 2006 in North America, the
PlayStation 3PlayStation 3 is a
seventh generation game console from Sony. It competes with the
Microsoft
Xbox 360Xbox 360 and the
NintendoNintendo Wii. The PS3 is the first console
in the series to introduce the use of motion-sensing technology
through its
SixaxisSixaxis wireless controller. The console also incorporates
a
Blu-ray DiscBlu-ray Disc player and features high-definition resolution. The PS3
was originally offered with either a 20 GB or 60 GB hard
drive, but over the years its capacity increased in increments
available up to 500 GB. The
PlayStation 3PlayStation 3 has sold over 80
million consoles worldwide as of November 2013.[4]
Slim model
Main article:
PlayStation 3PlayStation 3 Slim
Like its predecessors, the
PlayStation 3PlayStation 3 was re-released in 2009 as a
"slim" model. The redesigned model is 33% smaller, 36% lighter, and
consumes 34% to 45% less power than previous models.[32][33] In
addition, it features a redesigned cooling system and a smaller Cell
processor which was moved to a
45nm45nm manufacturing process.[34] It sold
in excess of a million units within its first 3 weeks on sale.[35] The
redesign also features support for CEC (more commonly referred to by
its manufacturer brandings of BraviaSync, VIERA Link, EasyLink and
others) which allows control of the console over
HDMIHDMI by using the
remote control as the controller. The PS3 slim also runs quieter and
is cooler than previous models due to its 45 nm Cell. The PS3
Slim no longer has the "main power" switch (similar to
PlayStationPlayStation 2
slim), like the previous PS3 models, which was located at the back of
the console.[32] It was officially released on September 1, 2009 in
North AmericaNorth America and
EuropeEurope and on September 3, 2009 in Japan, Australia
and New Zealand.[32][36][37]
Super Slim model
Main article:
PlayStation 3PlayStation 3 Super Slim
In 2012,
SonySony revealed a new "Super Slim"
PlayStationPlayStation 3. The new
console, with a completely redesigned case which has a sliding door
covering the disc drive (which has been moved to the top of the
console), is 4.3 pounds, almost three pounds lighter than the previous
"slim" model. The console comes with either 12GB flash memory or a
250GB, 500GB hard drive. Several bundles which include a Super Slim
PS3 and a selection of games are available.

Main article:
PlayStationPlayStation 4
The
PlayStation 4PlayStation 4 (PS4) is the latest video game console from Sony
Computer Entertainment announced at a press conference on February 20,
2013. In the meeting,
SonySony revealed some hardware specifications of
the new console.[38][39] The eighth-generation system, launched in the
fourth quarter of 2013, introduced the x86 architecture to the
PlayStationPlayStation series. According to lead system architect, Mark Cerny,
development on the
PlayStation 4PlayStation 4 began as early as 2008.[40]
PlayStationPlayStationEuropeEurope CEO Jim Ryan emphasized in 2011 that
SonySony wanted to
avoid launching the next-generation console behind the
competition.[41]
Among the new applications and services,
SonySony introduced the
PlayStationPlayStation App, allowing PS4 owners to turn smartphones and tablets
into a second screen to enhance gameplay.[42] The company also plans
to debut
PlayStation NowPlayStation Now game streaming service, powered by technology
from Gaikai.[43][44] By incorporating a share button on the new
controller and making it possible to view in-game content being
streamed live from friends,
SonySony plans to place more focus on social
gameplay as well.[42] The
PlayStation 4PlayStation 4 was first released in North
America on November 15, 2013.

Slim model
Main article:
PlayStation 4PlayStation 4 Slim
PlayStation 4PlayStation 4 Slim (officially marketed simply as
PlayStation 4PlayStation 4 or
PS4) was unveiled on September 7, 2016. It is a revision of the
original PS4 hardware with a streamlined form factor. The new casing
is 40% smaller, and carries a rounded body with a matte finish on the
top of the console rather than a two-tone finish. The two
USBUSB ports on
the front have a larger gap between them, and the optical audio port
was also removed.[168] It ships with a minor update to the
DualShockDualShock 4
controller, with the light bar visible through the top of the touchpad
and dark matte grey coloured exterior instead of a partially shiny
black. The PS4 Slim was released on September 15, 2016, with a 500 GB
model at the same price point as the original PS4 model.[169] Its
model number is CUH-2000.[170]
Pro model
Main article:
PlayStation 4PlayStation 4 Pro
PlayStation 4PlayStation 4 Pro or PS4 Pro for short (originally announced under the
codename Neo)[35] was unveiled on September 7, 2016. Its model number
is CUH-7000.[170] It is an updated version of the
PlayStation 4PlayStation 4 with
improved hardware, including an upgraded GPU with 4.2 teraflops of
processing power, and higher CPU clock. It is designed primarily to
enable selected games to be playable at 4K resolution, and improved
quality for
PlayStationPlayStation VR. All games are backwards and forward
compatible between PS4 and PS4 Pro, but games with optimizations will
have improved graphics performance on PS4 Pro. Although capable of
streaming 4K video from online sources, PS4 Pro does not support Ultra
HD Blu-ray.[171] [172] [173] Additionally the PS4 Pro is the only PS4
model which can remote play at 1080p. The other models are limited to
720p.[174]
Comparison

Units sold
102.49 million shipped, including 28.15 million PS one units (as of
March 31, 2007)[24]
>155 million (as of December 28, 2012)[3]
>84 million (as of November 2014)[4]
>50 million (As of 6 December 2016[update])[54]

Best-selling game
Gran Turismo; 10.85 million shipped (as of April 30, 2008)[55][56]
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas; 17.33 million shipped (as of March 26,
2008)[55]
Grand Theft AutoGrand Theft Auto V; over 15 million shipped (as of December 7, 2013)
UnchartedUncharted 4: A Thief's End; 8.7 million shipped (as of December 21,
2016)[57]

The
PocketStationPocketStation was a miniature game console created by SCE as a
peripheral for the original PlayStation.[66] Released exclusively in
JapanJapan on December 23, 1999,[67] it featured a monochrome LCD, a
speaker, a real-time clock and infrared communication capability. It
could also be used as a standard
PlayStationPlayStation memory card by connecting
it to a
PlayStationPlayStation memory card slot.[66] It was extremely popular in
JapanJapan and
SonySony originally had plans to release it in the United States
but the plan was ultimately scrapped due to various manufacturing and
supply-and-demand problems.[68][69]
PlayStationPlayStation Portable
Main article:
PlayStationPlayStation Portable

The
PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable (PSP) was Sony's first handheld console to
compete with Nintendo's DS console. The original model (PSP-1000) was
released in December 2004 and March 2005,[70] The console is the first
to utilize a new proprietary optical storage medium known as Universal
Media Disc (UMD), which can store both games and movies.[71][72] It
contains 32 MB of internal flash memory storage, expandable via
Memory Stick PRO DuoMemory Stick PRO Duo cards.[73] It has a similar control layout to the
PS3 with its
PlayStationPlayStation logo button and its ('Triangle'),
('Circle/O'), ('Cross/X') and ('Square') buttons in their
white-colored forms.
PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 models
Main articles:
PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable § PSP-2000, and PlayStation
Portable § PSP-3000
The PSP-2000 (also known as the Slim & Lite in PAL territories)
was the first major hardware revision of the
PlayStationPlayStation Portable,
released in September 2007. The 2000 series was 33% lighter and 19%
slimmer than the original
PlayStationPlayStation Portable.[74][75] The capacity
of the battery was also reduced by ⅓ but the run time remained the
same as the previous model due to lower power consumption. Older model
batteries will still work and they extend the amount of playing
time.[76] The PSP Slim & Lite has a new gloss finish. Its serial
port was also modified in order to accommodate a new video-out feature
(while rendering older PSP remote controls incompatible). On a
PSP-2000, PSP games will only output to external monitors or TVs in
progressive scan mode, so that televisions incapable of supporting
progressive scan will not display PSP games; non-game video will
output in either progressive or interlaced mode.
USBUSB charging was also
made possible.[77] Buttons are also reportedly more responsive on the
PSP-2000.[78] In 2008,
SonySony released a second hardware revision called
the PSP-3000 which included several features that were not present in
the PSP-2000, such as a built-in microphone and upgraded screen, as
well as the ability to output PSP games in interlaced mode.
PSP Go model
Main article:
PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable § PSP Go

Piano Black PSP Go (open position)

Released in October 2009, the PSP Go is the biggest redesign of the
PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable to date. Unlike previous PSP models, the PSP Go
does not feature a UMD drive but instead has 16 GB of internal
flash memory to store games, videos and other media.[79] This can be
extended by up to 32GB with the use of a
Memory Stick MicroMemory Stick Micro (M2) flash
card. Also unlike previous PSP models, the PSP Go's rechargeable
battery is not removable or replaceable by the user. The unit is 43%
lighter and 56% smaller than the original PSP-1000,[80] and 16%
lighter and 35% smaller than the PSP-3000.[81] It has a 3.8"
480 × 272 LCD[82] (compared to the larger 4.3"
480 × 272 pixel LCD on previous PSP models).[83] The screen
slides up to reveal the main controls. The overall shape and sliding
mechanism are similar to that of Sony's mylo COM-2 internet
device.[84] The PSP Go is being produced and sold concurrently with
its predecessor the PSP-3000 although it will not replace it.[80] All
games on the PSP Go must be purchased and downloaded from the
PlayStation StorePlayStation Store as the handheld is not compatible with the original
PSP's physical media, the Universal Media Disc. The handheld also
features connectivity with the
PlayStationPlayStation 3's controllers the Sixaxis
and
DualShockDualShock 3 via
BluetoothBluetooth connection.[81]
PSP-E1000 model
Main article:
PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable § PSP-E1000
The PSP-E1000 is a budget-focused PSP model which, unlike previous PSP
models, does not feature
Wi-FiWi-Fi or stereo speakers (replaced by a
single mono speaker)[85] and has a matte "charcoal black" finish
similar to the slim
PlayStationPlayStation 3.[86] The E1000 was announced at
Gamescom 2011 and available across the
PAL regionPAL region for an RRP of
€99.99.[86]
PlayStationPlayStation Vita
Main article:
PlayStationPlayStation Vita

Released in
JapanJapan on December 17, 2011 and
North AmericaNorth America on February
22, 2012,[87] the
PlayStationPlayStation Vita[88] was previously codenamed Next
Generation Portable (NGP). It was officially unveiled by
SonySony on
January 27, 2011 at the
PlayStationPlayStation Meeting 2011.[89] The original
model of the handheld, the PCH-1000 series features a 5-inch OLED
touchscreen,[90] two analog sticks, a rear touchpad,
SixaxisSixaxis motion
sensing and a 4 core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor.
The new PCH-2000 series system is a lighter redesign of the device
that was announced at the SCEJA Press Conference in September 2013
prior to the
TokyoTokyo Game Show. This model is 20% thinner and 15%
lighter compared to the original model, has an additional hour of
battery life, an LCD instead of OLED, includes a micro
USBUSB Type B
port, 1GB of internal storage memory. It was released in
JapanJapan on
October 10, 2013 in six colors: white, black, pink, yellow, blue, and
olive green, and in
North AmericaNorth America on May 6, 2014.[91]
Other hardware
PSX (2003)
Main article: PSX (DVR)

Main articles:
PlayStationPlayStation Controller,
PlayStationPlayStation Analog Joystick,
and
Dual AnalogDual Analog Controller
Released in 1994, the
PlayStationPlayStation control pad was the first controller
made for the original PlayStation. It featured a basic design of a
D-pad, 4 main select buttons ( ('Green Triangle'), ('Red Circle/Red
O')), ('Blue Cross/Blue X') and ('Pink Square'),[140] and start and
select buttons on the face. 'Shoulder buttons' are also featured on
the top [L1, L2, R1, R2] (named by the side [L=Left, R=Right] and 1
and 2 [top and bottom]). In 1996,
SonySony released the
PlayStationPlayStation Analog
Joystick for use with flight simulation games.[141] The original
digital controller was then replaced by the
Dual AnalogDual Analog in 1997, which
added two analog sticks based on the same potentiometer technology as
the Analog Joystick.[142] This controller was then also succeeded by
the
DualShockDualShock controller.
DualShockDualShock series and Sixaxis
Main articles:
DualShockDualShock and Sixaxis

Media
Magazines
The
PlayStationPlayStation brand has a wide series of magazines, from across
different continents, covering
PlayStationPlayStation related articles and
stories. Many of these magazines work closely with
SonySony and thus often
come with demo discs for
PlayStationPlayStation games. Currently there are three
magazines still in circulation namely PlayStation: The Official
Magazine,[148]
PlayStationPlayStation Official Magazine,[149] Official
PlayStationPlayStation Magazine (Australia).[150] However, over the years, many
PlayStationPlayStation magazines have spawned while a few have also become
defunct, these include the Official U.S.
PlayStationPlayStation Magazine,[151]
Official UK
PlayStationPlayStation Magazine,[152] Official UK
PlayStationPlayStation 2
Magazine.[153]
PlayStationPlayStation Underground
Main article:
PlayStationPlayStation Underground
PlayStationPlayStation Underground was a non-traditional magazine that Sony
Computer Entertainment America produced and published between Spring
1997 to Spring 2001. Subscribers received two
PlayStationPlayStation CDs, along
with a booklet and colorful packaging every quarter.[154] The CDs
contained interviews, cheats, programmers moves, game demos and
one-of-a-kind Memory Card saves. Several issues showed how a game was
created from basic design to final product. Since the CDs could only
be run on a PlayStation, it proved a useful marketing tool which
spawned a line of
PlayStationPlayStation Underground JamPacks Demo CDs and which
contained highlights from recent issues of
PlayStationPlayStation Underground,
along with seemingly as many game demos that could be packed on a
single CD. Unlike
PlayStationPlayStation Underground these were available in most
stores for $4.95, were published twice a year in Summer and Winter and
usually spotlighted newly released or coming soon games. By 2001, Sony
had decided to phase out Underground to focus on the JamPacks with the
release of the
PlayStationPlayStation 2.
PlayStationPlayStation Underground CDs are mainly
in the hands of collectors these days.[155]
Marketing

"eNoS Lives" (The first letter 'E' was printed in red to denote the
word, ready. Enos stood for Ready, Ninth of September)[19]
"U R Not e" (The letter 'E' was printed in red to denote the word,
ready, as in You Are Not Ready)[19]
"Do Not Underestimate The Power of PlayStation." (From the S.A.P.S. -
Society Against PlayStation — series of adverts)[156]
"Playstation" (Seen on several
PlayStationPlayStation systems and games
commercials)[citation needed]

"The Beginning."[158]
"Live In Yur Wrld, Ply In urs." (The
PlayStationPlayStation face button icons
were used to denote certain letters: Live In Your World, Play In
Ours)[158]
"(Welcome to the) Third Place."[158]
"Fun, Anyone?"[158]
"The ultimate just got better –
PlayStationPlayStation 9 – teleport yours
today."[158]

"The Wait Is Over"
"Welcome Chang3" (the number three is used to denote an 'e' and was
printed in red)[164]
"This is Living."[165]
"Play B3yond" (the number three is used to denote an 'e' and was
printed in red)[158]
"It Only Does Everything" (US Commercials) (PS3 Slim)[166]
"The Game Is Just The Start. Start PS3." (EU countries)[167]
"Long Live Play" (PS3 Slim)
"Never Stop Playing" (PS3 Slim)
"Greatness Awaits" (PS3 SuperSlim)

"See the Future"
"Push the boundaries of Play"[170]
"Greatness Awaits"
"This is 4 the Players"
"Where the Greatest Play"[171]

Notable advertising campaigns
It Only Does Everything
Main article: Kevin Butler (character)
The most notable of recent
PlayStationPlayStation commercials is the series of
"It Only Does Everything" commercials featuring a fictional character
called Kevin Butler who is a Vice President at PlayStation. These
commercials usually advertise the
PlayStation 3PlayStation 3 and its games through
a series of comedic answers to "Dear PlayStation" queries.[166] These
commercials garnered popularity among gamers, though its debut
commercial received criticism from the Nigerian government due to a
reference to the common 419 scams originating in Nigeria.
SonySony issued
an apology and a new version of the advert with the offending line
changed was produced.[172]
A spin-off of the campaign has been created for the PlayStation
Portable which features similar campaign commercials called the "Step
Your Game Up" campaign featuring a fictional teenage character named
Marcus Rivers acting in a similar fashion to Kevin Butler but
answering the "Dear PlayStation" queries about the PSP.[163]
NetherlandsNetherlands Ceramic White PSP Commercials
In July 2006, an advertising campaign in the
NetherlandsNetherlands was released
in which a white model dressed entirely in white and a black model
dressed entirely in black was used to compare Sony's new Ceramic White
PSP and the original Piano Black PSP. This series of ads depicted both
models fighting with each other[173] and drew criticism from the media
for being racist, though
SonySony maintains that the ad did not feature
any racist message.[174]
All I want for Xmas is a PSP
In November 2006, a marketing company employed by Sony's American
division created a website entitled "All I want for Xmas is a PSP",
designed to promote the PSP virally. The site contained a blog which
was purportedly written by "Charlie", a teenage boy attempting to get
his friend Jeremy's parents to buy him a PSP, and providing a "music
video" of either Charlie or Jeremy "rapping" about the PSP. Visitors
to the website quickly recognized that the website was registered to a
marketing company, exposing the campaign on sites such as
YouTubeYouTube and
digg.
SonySony was forced to admit that the site was in fact a marketing
campaign and in an interview with next-gen.biz,
SonySony admitted that the
idea was "poorly executed".[175]
Reception
In 2005, Australian newspaper
The AgeThe Age wrote an article about the
PlayStationPlayStation brand. Among the numerous interviews conducted with
various people in the industry was an interview with Dr Jeffrey Brand,
associate professor in communication and media at
Bond UniversityBond University who
said, "
PlayStationPlayStation re-ignited our imagination with video games". Game
designers
Yoshiki Okamoto called the brand "revolutionary —
PlayStationPlayStation has changed gaming, distribution, sales, image and more",
while Evan Wells of
Naughty DogNaughty Dog said "
PlayStationPlayStation is responsible for
making playing games cool."[176]
In 2009,
ViTrue, Inc.ViTrue, Inc. listed the
PlayStationPlayStation brand as number 13 on
their "The Vitrue 100: Top Social Brands of 2009". The ranking was
based on various aspects mainly dealing with popular social media
sites in aspects such as Social Networking, Video Sharing, Photo
Sharing and Blogs.[177]
In 2010,
GizmodoGizmodo stated that the
PlayStationPlayStation brand was one of the last
SonySony products to completely stand apart from its competitors, stating
that "If you ask the average person on the street what their favorite
SonySony product is, more often than not you'll hear PlayStation".[178] As
of April 2012, the
PlayStationPlayStation brand is the "most followed" brand on
social networking site, Facebook, with over 22 million fans and
followers in total which is more than any other brand in the
entertainment industry. A study by Greenlight's Entertainment Retail
has also shown that the
PlayStationPlayStation brand is the most interactive
making 634 posts and tweets on social networking sites
FacebookFacebook and
Twitter.[179]
In July 2014,
SonySony boasted in a company release video that the
PlayStationPlayStation 3,
PlayStation 4PlayStation 4 and
PlayStation VitaPlayStation Vita sold a combined
total of 100 million units.[180] It was announced at
TokyoTokyo Game Show
on September 1, 2014, that
PlayStationPlayStation home game consoles claim 78%
market share of all home consoles in Japan.[181]
As of 2015[update],
PlayStationPlayStation is the strongest selling console brand
worldwide.[182]
References